Alfred Drake won the 1954 Tony Award (New York City) for Actor in a Musical for "Kismet" as the Public Poet.
Another number excluded from the movie was the Vizier's theme song, "Was I Wazir." It was probably not used in the movie because of the bizarre punishments described in the song, including that of a royal flute player who lost his grasp on his instrument, and who the Vizier had bitten by an asp.
Future mega-successful TV producer Aaron Spelling (Charlie's Angels, The Love Boat, Dynasty) appears uncredited as a beggar. Spelling wrote in his memoirs that this role made him decide to give up acting. Director Vincente Minnelli always said he was responsible for Spelling's career as a successful TV producer and told him: "Had I not put you in 'Kismet', you'd still be an actor somewhere."
It was Vernon Duke who suggested Bob Wright and Chet Forrest use the music of Aleksandr Borodin as a basis for their score.
Movie rights cost $125,000.
The original Broadway production of "Kismet" opened at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York on December 3, 1953, ran for 583 performances and won the 1954 Tony Award for the Best Musical.
There was a number in the original musical called "Zubbediyah, Sameris' Dance" that was later excluded from the movie version; it was performed by Princess Zubbediyah, the woman who the Caliph was supposed to marry.